Arsenal secured a crucial victory against Bournemouth to keep them five points clear at the summit of the Premier League, with substitute Reiss Nelson completing a spectacular comeback. We’ve witnessed some incredible moments in football over the decades and have taken a trip down memory lane to revisit five of the greatest last-minute goals.
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Deeney vs Leicester – 2012/13 Championship Play-Offs
“Here’s Hogg… Deeeeneeeyyy!” Every football fan knows the famous line and has seen the extraordinary passage of play multiple times, but it somehow gets better every time you watch it. After Leicester’s Anthony Knockaert won what can only be described as a dubious penalty, the Foxes looked certain to book a spot in the play-off final. Twice Manuel Almunia saved and up the other end Watford went.
Fernando Forestieri’s cross was nodded down by Jonathan Hogg and powered home by Troy Deeney, completely turning the tie on its head and sending the Hornets to Wembley with the last kick of the game. Fans flooded the pitch and Deeney secured a place in Watford history.
Costinha vs Manchester United – 2003/04 Champions League
Manchester United fans must still have nightmares about Jose Mourinho charging down the Old Trafford touchline. After losing 2-1 in Porto, United were favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals in the reverse fixture. All was going according to plan when Paul Scholes headed home and United looked to be cruising into the next round on away goals.
Porto had other ideas. Benni McCarthy’s injury-time free-kick was fumbled back into danger by Tim Howard and Costinha bundled in from close range. There was elation in the away end, especially when ‘The Special One’ set off down the touchline to join in the celebrations. An iconic Mourinho moment en route to an incredible Champions League-winning campaign.
Thomas vs Liverpool – 1988/89 First Division
The 100-year anniversary of the Football League turned out to be, somewhat poetically, one of the closest top-flight campaigns in English history. Three points clear at the summit, Liverpool hosted second-place Arsenal on the final day of the season – Kenny Dalglish’s Reds simply needed to avoid defeat by two goals to be crowned champions.
Arsenal took the lead eight minutes into the second half through Alan Smith, but as the clock ticked over 90 minutes, Liverpool looked set to hold on. A long pass forward was flicked into the path of Michael Thomas, who pounced on a bouncing ball and fired past Bruce Grobbelaar to win the Gunners a first league title in 18 years… on goals scored.
Aguero vs QPR – 2011/12 Premier League
Talking of tight campaigns, to win the league with one stoppage-time goal is something, but to do it with two will never be seen again. Manchester United’s victory on the final day meant City needed all three points to secure their first Premier League title. So, when injury time approached with the hosts 2-1 down against 10-men QPR, City fans could be forgiven for losing all hope.
That hope was reignited when Edin Dzeko headed in a David Silva corner to keep the dream alive. City charged forward as the seconds ebbed away. The ball fell to Sergio Aguero and the Argentine jinked past a challenge before blasting through a helpless Paddy Kenny. Two stoppage-time goals to win the league over your greatest rivals. Martin Tyler was right when he exclaimed: “I swear you’ll never see anything like this ever again”.
Solskjær vs Bayern Munich – 1998/99 Champions League Final
On the topic of stoppage-time doubles, how about a 91st minute equaliser and 93rd minute winner to grab the world’s most prestigious club competition and secure an unprecedented treble? Enter Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Having already won the Premier League and FA Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson’s United travelled to Camp Nou on the verge of history. Mario Basler opened the scoring for Bayern Munich as the Germans appeared to be heading for a fourth European Cup.
Pressure piled on Bayern, and when Ryan Giggs’ wayward shot was turned in by Teddy Sheringham, United fans were just thankful to be heading to extra time. But two minutes later, David Beckham swung in a trademark corner, Sheringham flicked onwards and Solskjær prodded into the roof of the net. Ferguson had won the treble and ‘the impossible became reality for United’.
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